Nonprofit partners tell Chesterfield County supervisors programs are expanding; highlight swim-safety, mentoring and graduation gains

At a Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors meeting, nonprofit partners updated supervisors on local youth services and said programs in schools and YMCAs are expanding, producing higher school retention and graduation outcomes and new local swim-safety efforts.

Ashley Hall, a Communities In Schools (CIS) representative, told the board that CIS currently serves 14,000 students across 15 Chesterfield-area schools and that “when CIS of Chesterfield was present, 98% of students stayed in school.” Hall also summarized two recent larger studies, including a Harvard-linked economic-mobility analysis, saying CIS participation was associated with a 7.5% higher graduation rate and about $1,500 more in annual earnings for participating students, figures Hall described as extending the program’s impact beyond dropout prevention.

Jody Alexander, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Richmond, described the YMCA’s local footprint and services and highlighted drowning-prevention work. Alexander said the YMCA reached roughly 230,000 people in 2024, of whom just under…